Walcott misses Capello's final cut

Fabio Capello has shorn seven players from his initial 30-man England squad for the FIFA World Cup, with Arsenal FC forward Theo Walcott the most surprising omission.

Walcott, who scored a hat-trick in England's 4-1 win in Croatia during qualifying, started their final pre-tournament friendly against Japan on Sunday but was substituted at half-time. He did not play for Arsenal until October this term because of various injuries and started just 12 league games throughout the campaign. He was a shock inclusion in Sven-Göran Eriksson's squad for the 2006 World Cup, but did not make a single appearance in Germany.

Manchester City FC midfielder Gareth Barry, meanwhile, has been given a place in Capello's final party despite concerns over an ankle ligament injury sustained against Tottenham Hotspur FC on 5 May. Two Tottenham players – Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone – have also been left out from the travelling contingent to South Africa.

The other four players excluded are Sunderland AFC striker Darren Bent, West Ham United FC's Scott Parker, Everton left-back Leighton Baines and Barry's club team-mate Adam Johnson. Capello and his squad travel to South Africa on Wednesday and open their tournament against the United States on 12 June. They will also face Algeria and Slovenia in Group C.

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